Issue(s): Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #102
Cover Date: May 85
Title: "A life for a life!"
Credits:
Cary Burkett - Writer
Larry Lieber - Penciler
Jim Mooney - Inker
Danny Fingeroth - Editor

Review/plot:
Another Cary Burkett story. This one's a little dark, but it's pretty good. Peter befriends a young lady new to New York City, and when she's hit by a car, he tracks down her twin brother for a kidney transplant. The brother is suffering from depression, which has caused him to lose his girlfriend, and he's in the process of committing suicide when Spider-Man shows up.

The villain of the piece is Killer Shrike, who's also a bit down on his luck. Burkett does a good job of sort of showing us the low-level super-villain side of things. Shrike has been struggling since his regular gig at Brand Corporation dried up when their criminal activities were exposed, so now he's been choosing his crimes carefully, staying out of the Manhattan area where the majority of the super-heroes congregate, and hoping that some other criminal group will notice his activities and reach out to him with a job offer.

Unfortunately for him, he's living in the same building as the twin brother, and when he gets the wrong idea and attacks Spidey, he's taken out rather quickly.

Decent!

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: As Benway notes in the comments, the Osborns are out of the hospital with their new baby, placing this after Amazing Spider-Man #265.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Muh. Let's say pretty bad story. Agree Killer Shrike wasn't taken very serious despite his creepy,ferocity and skillful crimes. And now He is more dangerous and cunning, however KIller Shrike fools stupidly on the person what he wanted to attack and not catch SPider-Man but his unnamed partner. Worse ! And then That I hate, it's that i don't know who sent Killer Shrike attack Spider-Man, that could be the sinister Green Goblin Norman Osborn, he is truly evil and mad. And I disagree they didn't put him in this story, he is a terrible awesome Spider-Man's foe too ! That blame !

you know, I think I've read all of Cary Burkett's output for marvel (these issues and some team up issues) and it really make me wonder why he didnt get more marvel work. Entertaining stories which were well-informed in marvel lore, often using obscure characters (white dragon, taskmaster, blacklash, killer shrike) with and extemely good handle on them. What's not to like.

As a kid, I remember being generally nerous that Spidey wouldn't get to Donnie in time in this story. One of the few times i wanted a Spidey fight to end.

Shrike would make the same mistake re: Spider-Man in Web #91, with similar results.

Continuity problem! On page 5 Peter is saying goodbye to the Osbornes and saying that he always enjoys visiting them and the new baby. In ASM (released the following month) Peter visits Liz and Harry in hospital and the baby is named! I'd say this issue should be some time after the other one.

I meant to say ASM 265, but screwed up! The hospital visit is on page 5 of that issue.

Thanks for that catch, Benway. I've moved PPPSSM #102 after ASM #265. I can't put too much space between issues without upsetting a lot of other Spider-Man appearances, but i definitely agree it needs to go after.